Anthony Amore on the Missing Artifacts at the State House

I mean I've got a -- was that when -- it's -- stuck in hundreds entered her -- -- or satellite says. The state house movie raiders of the lost artifacts. Still curious so astonishing. Great piece of investigative reporting -- -- from around the Boston Phoenix. I mean it please stay and some of the museum heights around Boston. Deep -- -- DeWitt disguises. At this didn't they just so lions walking into work every day so. Invited it -- Mori he is the president. Abbas since security associates he's the author along -- and Tom -- to the book called. Stealing Rembrandts. The untold stories up notorious art -- -- do you worry a little we know that Eagles notorious. Our -- have been occurring right under our noses at the state house welcome to the Michelle McPhee show. Actually -- makes Michelle yet you know. It's amazing little to do most of us in the commonwealth know that that this state is just riddled with stories apart after its. It ranks with new York and California is the three worst states in the nation for theft. It's despicable I mean -- more experience I wrote a story for The Herald about a Big Dig contractor named Paul -- stealing the food -- statues. From Chinatown from the -- Ukraine to steal them but the guys still managed to steal the and now we know the people walking out with I mean I arguably would say a bloodstained civil war battle flag. Belongs to the people that doesn't belong and some you know retired -- about living. These things happen a lot in public building believe it or not a in Massachusetts. More than in most places EC. A piece of -- that's in the collection of the -- Europe or the state. Is is taken from the collection put in a politician's office like you know. Better than most of these politicians stay in office -- very long time when the confidence to go they think these things belong to them and and I. How does it take its oil painting of John Adams -- never ever ever be able to be recreated let me just steal this John Adams speaking the second president the United States. The two rafter of the 1780 Massachusetts constitution problem. Let's just take -- portrait back to you know my might the cozy confines of my Cape Cod house. Right you know I -- -- to do and perhaps who don't believe it's a great story me actually tracked down a piece of the Yankees are just amazing work in yum. When I saw that there was John Adams piece missing is that you know about when is definitely -- not that I may be wrong but I -- my hunch would be that that that's not lost that someone took a. Don't lose an oil painting at -- -- how do you lose. I gigantic piece of steamed collapses. You know day if it's lost to what happens often conflict is going to be put some into office they -- they leave office and then. The maintenance people from the public building don't understand the value of and they just put it somewhere there's not a. -- like you know in the lawmakers trunk. Yeah which is why Deval Patrick doesn't want to -- to get the parking logs. Never know is the work that's the worst case scenario -- -- stolen art could be. Misplaced because no one thing. I'm pretty hard to believe that the cleaning guys can take a pitcher John Adams off the wall thrown in the trash. Not not thrown in the trash but not stored input along with the where the registrar of the art or the archivist says it should be and that happens very frequently. And that's very dangerous. And boring you -- you deal with this sort of thing for a living as the as the head of the Boston security associates -- -- wrote a book about it and this is that is not all that comment but the idea we had such apathy about it and this and Paris and actually positively embarrassing. That they RR. Want and it doesn't lonely old paintings guy and I mean letters that were written by George Washington to John Hancock notes by and Franklin. -- that 35 by 54. Full steam glass ceiling. This one of the largest single skylight in the country was removed from the house chamber. I forgot I think. Kind of machine -- really of these are important pieces of like you said they belong to the people. The whole purpose of them that the state holding them to get access to the citizens in the com want to see them enjoyment and stay in the history in the culture and when these these things don't miss him people take them. As a role -- -- -- is the worst thing you can do it's it's it's spewing directly from the people exposed to present. And you know the gadget these civil war bloodstained flags in weapons in coins and has signed documents from the founding in Massachusetts Bay colony. The fact that these things are calls white. So white. It is. So Regis because if -- -- -- every day on the show we have set the outrage today we talk about a way in which we are. Consistently robbed by the people who we are supposed to be giving up back trusted these lawmakers in return we get. These sort of accusations or at least that this is a bit. Innuendo there that's somebody's walking out of the state house with the art in the most likely suspects of the people have around the clock access to it. We get you it is it's almost as it would if you -- suspend disbelief to think that all of these things just went missing in their store in the wrong place some of the toughest Colin. But you get a better point it's. These are these aren't baseball cards be dark. The essential documents from our history and you know what what state in the union has a more important history and hours so. I think this -- just take these because they're adjusting to them a letter from Washington to Hancock are. A civil war flag -- -- these things are essential pieces of of our history than not they're not toys and they're not for an individual to keep crude for yourself. It certainly isn't as reconsider that these are artifacts. From -- at their American revolution. This is how it all began for this country of freedom independence and in this stuff is just kind swipes stolen. I mean I know cultural plunder is an all that rare around there. But which I think infuriating yelling up book stealing -- to deal little bit what that the famous heights including the line -- those -- partner those thieves are yet. Allegedly walked in dresses Boston cops are thieves dressed in -- dresses themselves. That's Justin is state employees straight weeks. The nom because guess it really is like the ultimate act of entitlement breaks I mean there that's that's what outrageous people so much this sense that you know do you know what I am in. The sense of entitlement because they are state worker or state represented a what have you and then to just take these things like they belong to a they're really a slap in the face of people. It is slap in the face of people but what's -- I think in raging is that there isn't. There's absolutely no effort to recover these lost items at Chris Brown from the Boston Phoenix and that's exactly. You know I newspaper that role and around an extra cash I have one investigative reporter can finding artifacts that belongs to the people of Massachusetts. And why isn't this some sort of you we have so many hack jobs here in Massachusetts. In the argument -- with -- for a few minutes ago the that the state needs to put some in my view on the payroll. Rather than -- Susie and bombs started -- by a sixty gig no shows salary. Why are we spending any time -- after protecting these artifacts in recovering the ones -- don't. That's that's the perfect question Michelle I mean Chris found out when basically by doing some Google searches. You know and then later on -- -- -- Chris courted. Marty left post saying you wouldn't find these things come. I don't think you actually can put money -- of how the pieces start -- and that can databases because statement on the budget -- time but to put stolen art in. The FBI database Interpol database takes no time and it's free. And that has anything been done so it's not it's it's it's a matter of a few hours worth the work wasn't even expanded. Chris is done more work on this and any any person in this financing. Do you really know why it's the same reason why they won't give us a Statehouse parking logs at the same reason why that they don't it's -- question of the stonewalling you with these big bills. Because we don't know all the culprits are. And the culprits of the very people who are paid so highly in dearly. To protect us and it and they don't do it with things as simple as legislation. And in now on top of it. They're not only stopping their browse the the -- of hundred dollar bills there is stuffing the electrons with our. In artifacts from the revolutionary war. These things are and somebody did some of these they've -- people's homes right around in our neighborhoods. And they're on their losses if they belong to them and again it's that sense of entitlement shameless missed. That is really appalling and that's what really bothers. And that's why not investigating it can't anymore you could you know that if they've put you on the case who attracts some of these pieces down but they don't want that because annual Mikey prosecution hopefully. But some of these people. Skin if any can you take some calls from some of our listeners sure. Okay Eric you are on with Michelle McPhee and yet you more -- one of the authors of stealing Rembrandts go right ahead Eric. Hello shell and Anthony ally. I'll send it to your mom it was quite a while ago when that made it Curley is that's -- missing and was finally -- -- -- male white somewhat calm down on the state. That's right it was there was -- -- -- naturally if it was and what a little bit more to it that looked like it was not -- do you remember the -- dust story. I've heard the story it's always a little more to it but you know to take a desk out of -- building went to take campaigning now maybe people slowly taken out thinking -- belong to you but it desk. I mean these -- They -- all the flags up and stone step a bit stock. Commence -- -- -- -- but the not -- the incident there that the case theory it's all the -- you take a small painting you could. But the pain in a box with a bunch of books that you hadn't walked out no it's checking these things these guys -- office. Crazy I mean in yeah and Anthony Marty and Eric I think it taxes right. This some walked into that show upon stars you have a watch that about the biggest find John. This lock didn't you with one of their Washington document you probably know it could be one of them on that was stolen from the state house. Could be I mean you know you know the search it and hopefully with this news article with the type of attention you're giving Michelle. Some hopefully the state is gonna take some action just can't let this stuff go up there is John Adams portrait is important and. And how the bloodstained. Civil war flags that Deval Patrick office told restaurant other in the basement. Well can I see them where they in the basement and they refused to tell him where they are because we know the truth Anthony they've gone. Right there and they've been that if they're not they -- shall we can they belong to watch the spotlight should be should shine nowhere brighter than it does that the state house was saying no is. Preposterous Chris is not a public service -- by finding that these things -- missing. And he's turned away from seeing seeing what's around. I mean Anthony I'm glad John you are -- with it anymore it -- they're stealing Rembrandts. They had a lot and security is so it's welcome. Welcome to protect the crop got really interesting book I can't -- to -- but -- ever supplies are you -- that you are gate network vote on. The stayed out with a deeper look at a culture that. They'll look at their governments would have won the federal government run out of money quote -- federal government make big nonessential workers go all. Like that but even missed a -- so you know probably. Did you get those jobs out there are wasted. Fuel. Exactly why they don't wanna hire someone like Anthony -- -- -- to may -- -- some of these. Talking about insignificant baseball cards as -- pointed out we are talking about. Pieces of art history. -- art history these artifacts belong to the people that belong to the veterans who like this civil war patriots in the American revolution spill blood. In nearly I carrying those flags back to the state house and now pig -- Anthony and are not despicable of that. Well there's that there was no more bloody want in the civil war in I think -- -- flags are. Even if they are -- rolled up in some drawers down the basement to help some and you can't see them is just that -- -- loan is an abomination. While Anthony MRI hope the people are listening and this is yet another complaint we need to demand answers we need to demand some sort of accountability. We appreciate your expertise on has his book is stealing Rembrandts Anthony Mari thanks for the time thank you -- Thank you wanna -- -- we are AM six hated every RK out I mean this is almost is bad the Nazis pillaging museums. All is bad at first. On the show -- and we are AMC -- --